Feelings mixed on proposed solar farm
Singer-songwriter John Denver once famously sang “Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.”
However, it is sunshine on potential solar — panels — that has been the talk of Colbert County.
Tennessee Valley Authority held a meeting on July 15 at Colbert Heights High School to get public feedback on a proposed solar array south of Muscle Shoals along U.S. Highway 43.
According to TVA, the company has entered into a power purchase agreement with Spring Valley, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Urban Grid, to purchase the power generated by the proposed Spring Valley Solar Project in Colbert County.
“To address the region’s load growth due to growing population, industrial electrification and onshoring of manufacturing, TVA is making some of the largest capital investments in the agency’s history to ensure the region has reliable, affordable energy to power American jobs,” said the company about the project. “TVA’s current planning assumption includes building about 6,200-plus megawatts of new firm, dispatchable generation, pending required approvals and environmental reviews. Over 3,500 megawatts are already under construction – enough energy to power two million homes.”
TVA said it is currently evaluating the potential environmental impact of the proposed solar farm, a proposed 178.1 megawatt-facility to be located on 943 acres of a 1,629-acre project study area, which will be entirely in Colbert County.
Public opinion of the proposed solar farm has been mixed.
According to TVA, the project site is a mixture of farmlands and forested areas. Belle Mont Mansion, a listed National Register of Historic Places property, is located near the proposed solar array acreage.
“Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation, which operates Belle Mont Mansion for the state of Alabama, is particularly concerned about the close proximity of the solar farms to Belle Mont, which is not only a historic landmark but also a popular tourist destination and wedding venue,” according to a statement released by board members of the CCHLF.
“To have this historic property surrounded by solar panels would negatively impact the viewshed and drive approach for tourists and wedding parties who visit the site. We are also concerned about potential detrimental effects on wildlife and whether the panels will be properly and safely maintained by Urban Grid. If the panels are damaged and propelled by a severe weather event onto the Belle Mont property, will Urban Grid be responsible for safely disposing of them?”
Mike Shewbart, manager of Shoals Solid Waste Disposal Authority, said he is for the solar array.
“I have mixed feelings on (the project),” Shewbart said. “The transmission lines are going through our old landfill. I do think we need to get renewable energy wherever we can. I know TVA is working hard on that. I think the solar farm will be good.”
